26 DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE ALPHABET:
THE LETTER L
Monte Holland
Several persons have expressed an interest in having my husband, the Rev. Monte W. Holland, post an online series of devotions. Through their encouragement, Monte will post a weekly devotion on CAROLYN’S COMPOSITIONS. To read the introduction click on 26 Devotions Based on the Alphabet: Introduction. Click on 26 Devotions Based on the Alphabet: The Letter K to read the previous post on the letter K.
Return to this site each Saturday to read his devotions. Carolyn C. Holland
~~~~~~~~~~~~
ALPHABET OF THE BIBLE – THE LETTER L
Love the Lord, all you his saints. (Psalm 31:23)
This verse takes on real meaning as we look at Psalm 31 as a whole. The heading on this psalm is A Prayer for Protection.
Early on the psalmist (David) says, Listen to my prayer and hurry to save me. In addition to requesting God’s help, David praises God: You are faithful, and I trust you because you rescued me. And further on David says, My life is in your hands. Save me from enemies who hunt me down.
This is all back drop to our L verse.
Many people say “Praise God!” when something good happens. There isn’t always a lot of punch behind that phrase. It often just flows forth in the moment.
David says much more when he states, Love the Lord, all you his saints. The verses preceding Psalm 31:33 tell the story: saints are those whose lives are immersed in God’s care, in serving God, and in trusting God. We should not confuse saints with those who are canonized by the church. Here a saint is one who trusts God and puts one’s life in God’s hands for protection and guidance.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
If we choose to be saints, we are choosing to love God. What form does that love take? What form does any genuine love take?
The Great Commandment is the key for me.
And yet, even if we commit to love of God, neighbor and self, what form does it take?
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The phrases I quoted above help. Love is to be intertwined. In the case of God, we are linked in prayer and praise. Love is to be expectant. In the case of God we trust God to be with us and to save us.
Expectation also goes the other way as God challenges us to action. Love stretches us. We never fully respect all of God’s created order – the life and resources of nature. However, God challenges us to fully respect God’s creation.
Love is dynamic. Each day is a new day with God. God’s blessings come anew. A full, loving relationship with God brings exciting opportunities and responsibilities.
Good morning, God. What can I be and do to make this a better world today?
~~~~~~~~~~~~
To read 26 DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE ALPHABET: THE LETTER M, click on: 26 Devotions Based on the Alphabet: The Letter M.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Don’t miss Monte’s devotions.
Subscribe to CAROLYN’S COMPOSITIONS today
TO RECEIVE E-MAIL NOTIFICATION
OF NEW POSTS
(to subscribe see upper right hand post on this site—
Notification will begin after you confirm your subscription
in the e-mail you will receive from wordpress.com.
Your e-mail address will not be published. )
~~~~~~~~~~~~
ADDITIONAL READING:
26 Devotions Based on the Alphabet: Introduction
KEEPING PEACE IN SOUTH AFRICA Part 3
IT’S NOT THAT SMALL A WORLD
Stockings for Jesus
For Josh: In Memory of LCpl. Joshua T. Twigg
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26 Devotions Based on the Alphabet: The Letter L
Tags: A Frayed List of Twenty-Six “Alphabet” Bible Verses, A Prayer for Protection, All, All posts, all you his saints, Alphabet devotion based on the letter L, and I trust you because you rescued me, Bible, Christianity, Church, COMMENTARY, Contemplation, DEVOTIONS, God, God. What can I be and do to make this a better world today?, Good morning, Inspiration, Inspirational, Jesus, Latest post, Life, Lifestyle, Love the Lord, Meditation, Misc., Miscellaneous, Musings, My life is in your hands, Psalm 31:23, Reflections, Save me from enemies who hunt me down, Spirituality, Theology, Thoughts, Weekly devotions based on the alphabet, You are faithful
26 DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE ALPHABET:
THE LETTER L
Monte Holland
Several persons have expressed an interest in having my husband, the Rev. Monte W. Holland, post an online series of devotions. Through their encouragement, Monte will post a weekly devotion on CAROLYN’S COMPOSITIONS. To read the introduction click on 26 Devotions Based on the Alphabet: Introduction. Click on 26 Devotions Based on the Alphabet: The Letter K to read the previous post on the letter K.
Return to this site each Saturday to read his devotions. Carolyn C. Holland
~~~~~~~~~~~~
ALPHABET OF THE BIBLE – THE LETTER L
This verse takes on real meaning as we look at Psalm 31 as a whole. The heading on this psalm is A Prayer for Protection.
Early on the psalmist (David) says, Listen to my prayer and hurry to save me. In addition to requesting God’s help, David praises God: You are faithful, and I trust you because you rescued me. And further on David says, My life is in your hands. Save me from enemies who hunt me down.
This is all back drop to our L verse.
Many people say “Praise God!” when something good happens. There isn’t always a lot of punch behind that phrase. It often just flows forth in the moment.
David says much more when he states, Love the Lord, all you his saints. The verses preceding Psalm 31:33 tell the story: saints are those whose lives are immersed in God’s care, in serving God, and in trusting God. We should not confuse saints with those who are canonized by the church. Here a saint is one who trusts God and puts one’s life in God’s hands for protection and guidance.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
If we choose to be saints, we are choosing to love God. What form does that love take? What form does any genuine love take?
The Great Commandment is the key for me.
And yet, even if we commit to love of God, neighbor and self, what form does it take?
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The phrases I quoted above help. Love is to be intertwined. In the case of God, we are linked in prayer and praise. Love is to be expectant. In the case of God we trust God to be with us and to save us.
Expectation also goes the other way as God challenges us to action. Love stretches us. We never fully respect all of God’s created order – the life and resources of nature. However, God challenges us to fully respect God’s creation.
Love is dynamic. Each day is a new day with God. God’s blessings come anew. A full, loving relationship with God brings exciting opportunities and responsibilities.
Good morning, God. What can I be and do to make this a better world today?
~~~~~~~~~~~~
To read 26 DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE ALPHABET: THE LETTER M, click on: 26 Devotions Based on the Alphabet: The Letter M.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Don’t miss Monte’s devotions.
Subscribe to CAROLYN’S COMPOSITIONS today
TO RECEIVE E-MAIL NOTIFICATION
OF NEW POSTS
(to subscribe see upper right hand post on this site—
Notification will begin after you confirm your subscription
in the e-mail you will receive from wordpress.com.
Your e-mail address will not be published. )
~~~~~~~~~~~~
ADDITIONAL READING:
26 Devotions Based on the Alphabet: Introduction
KEEPING PEACE IN SOUTH AFRICA Part 3
IT’S NOT THAT SMALL A WORLD
Stockings for Jesus
For Josh: In Memory of LCpl. Joshua T. Twigg
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